University of Maine
Albany (N.Y.)
Women's Basketball Drops 64-59 Decision at Albany
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Sigi Koizar led the Black Bears with 17 points but the University of Maine's three-game win streak was snapped as it fell 64-59 at UAlbany on Saturday afternoon.
Mikaela Gustafsson chipped in 16 points, including the 600th of her career, while Bella Swan added nine. Koizar, who also tallied a team-high six rebounds, posted her fifth-straight double-figure performance.
Liz Wood reached two more milestones in her Black Bear career, surpassing Stephanie Guidi for eighth all-time in scoring with 1,293 points and also moved into eighth in rebounding, passing Lauree Gott with 783 boards.
Shereesha Richards led all scorers, scoring 34 of UAlbany's 64 points.
Maine went 19-for-45 from the field (42.2%) and hit 15-of-20 free throws.
The Black Bears scored the opening hoop but could only muster four more points in the quarter as UAlbany built a 13-6 lead, nine of which coming from Richards.
Maine settled in to start the second quarter, building out an 8-2 run as Koizar's 3-point brought the Black Bears within one with 6:36 left in the half.
The Great Danes responded with a 9-1 to take a nine point edge before carrying a 30-22 lead into the break.
The Black Bears regrouped coming out of the half, opening with an 8-2 run, regaining the lead when Wood intercepted a pass and hit Koizar in transition for a bucket. Weckstrom answered an Albany bucket moments later with a triple, giving the Black Bears their largest lead at three with 5:25 remaining.
UAlbany fought back to tie the game for the sixth time and re-take the lead on a pair of Imani Tate free throws.
The Great Danes closed out the third quarter on a 12-2 run, once again distancing themselves from Maine to take a 50-41 lead into the final quarter.
Maine continued to battle late. Trailing by nine, the Black Bears worked their offense and were able to get inside, drawing a pair of fouls and getting a layup from Gustafsson to cap a 5-0 run to cut the lead to four.
But it would be as close as they would get as Albany hung out to take the America East contest 64-59.
Maine is back in action on Monday at 7 p.m. when it remains on the road, traveling to New Hampshire for a showdown with the Wildcats. Fans may once again view the game by tuning to ESPN3.
-UMaine-
